Just say no?
For eight years, since the moment President Barack Obama took office, the Republican party has just said no.
No to a health care plan based on one of their own.
No to a stimulus plan even though the economy was on the precipice of disaster.
No to education reforms that they had previously championed.
No to raising the debt ceiling, which led to a national credit downgrade, which roiled the markets and threw the economy back into jitters.
No to giving a hearing, just a hearing, to the President’s Supreme Court nominee — one they had previously liked — under the ridiculous pretense that it needed to wait until after the presidential election despite all history to the contrary, as well as something called the United States Constitution, which they had sworn to uphold.
No even to basic respect, as they challenged the President’s birthplace, refused even to be photographed him, told bald-faced lies about him, insinuated or directly stated that he’s a Muslim (which he is not — but which, it should be said, is not against the law), and even went so far as to interrupt the State of the Union with the hurled imprecation, “You lie!”
And the price they have paid for all this is… nothing.
As Politico relates in painful detail, they have been rewarded with the full monty: the Presidency, both houses of Congress, and, soon, the Supreme Court.
Their intransigence isn’t even ideological. Many of the things they’ve objected to were proposals that they originated. No, it was 100% pure party politics. Their goal was to put their party before the country.
But saying no is easy when it isn’t your hand on every lever. Now they’re going to want to do things.
I wonder if the Democrats will say no.
December 5th, 2016 at 1:59 am
Well that gets the week off to a Monday start!
December 5th, 2016 at 6:42 pm
I guess we have to ask if we want to start acting like Republicans. My own feeling is that they can screw things up without us interfering
December 5th, 2016 at 6:50 pm
This is the question many of us are facing. I should also note that there are many good Republicans (and bad Democrats), and that the question is more appropriately framed as “Do we want to start acting like the Republican CONGRESS?” If possible, I’d like to be nothing like them. For one thing, I actually DO things. Secondly, the things I do are the things I’m SUPPOSED TO BE DOING, especially when people pay me to do them.
December 6th, 2016 at 5:23 am
Good points
December 18th, 2016 at 4:02 am
Oh, come on. The Republicans are the ideological opposites of Trump and you expect them to roll over for Obama? Republican leaders have done that for years, and it cost the reins of power. Why do you think Trump got elected? Polls show repeatedly the the majority of people are not happy with his policies and they’re fed up with Republican opposition caving at every turn. I don’t have the space or time to respond to each of your assertions, which are misleading at best. I would wish they have said “No!” more consistently and strenuously. I expect that the Democrats will almost certainly reject almost everything Trump does and says. That’s politics, as you say. To be honest, I’m surprised at this post, as this is the most nakedly partisan posts that I can recall. But I suppose everybody’s id gets the best of them from time to time. 🙂
December 29th, 2016 at 9:54 pm
1. “The Republicans are the ideological opposites of Trump.” Really? What’s the evidence of that? They certainly seem to be stepping right into line behind him. Their common ground: lower taxes on the 1%, and eviscerate the social safety net. That’s hardly oppositional.
2. I never expected them to “roll over.” I expected them to give Merrick Garland a HEARING. That’s their JOB. In fact, it’s their CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY.
3. I think Trump got elected for a combination of all of these reasons: i) Hillary Clinton, even though winning almost 3 million votes more than Trump, isn’t a natural fit as a candidate (I certainly don’t like her, and wasn’t enthusiastic about her); ii) Trump spoke to a group that was feeling very unheard, particularly in places like Pennsylvania where I know you are; iii) we know that the Russians tampered in our election, spreading lots of (dis)information that was picked up and broadcast by media and the alt-right; iv) there was voter suppression in several states, North Carolina being just one but probably the most egregious. (Look what they just did to their newly elected Democratic governor — stripping him of all power before he even takes office.)
4. When you have the time to refute my assertions, please take it.
5. No, the Democrats aren’t almost certainly going to reject everything Trump does. Want to know why? Because they’ll cave. They Always Cave. You know it and I know it. I can only wish that they learn a lesson here – but they won’t.
6. I’m surprised that you’re surprised. I think I’m rather consistent.
7. Id? No. It’s DISGUST. At the most loathsome candidate ever, now ascending to the highest office. It’s also deep fear, because if they’re willing to suspend the Constitution and effectively strip the President of his Constitutional right to a hearing on his Supreme Court nominee… then they’re willing to do ANYTHING. As, I fear, you are about to see.
8. Finally. Here’s what I”m going to be saying for 4-8 years to any number of people, as the awful reality sets in: “You voted for it.”